Information Retrieval System

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for recognizing specific text patterns using a camera and redirecting users to content associated with the text. In an example, part of the system (e.g., a mobile phone) receives a camera input and recognizes text surrounded by a predetermined pattern of special characters (e.g., #CMoreApple##). The system then directs a browser to content associated with the text (e.g., an Apple web site) for viewing by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A server operatively coupled to a network, the server comprising at least one processing unit operatively coupled to at least one memory, the memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the server to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a message sent via the network by a remote device, wherein the remote device sent the message responsive to recognizing a predetermined text pattern containing an initial portion as an opening tag and a final portion as a closing tag, wherein the opening tag and the closing tag enclose between them at least one recognized intermediate symbol associated with information stored in a tangible storage device accessible to the server;   retrieving the information from the storage device; and   sending the retrieved information via the network to the remote device.   
     
     
         2 . The server of  claim 1 , wherein the retrieved information is retrieved from a location in a database stored on the storage device, wherein the location corresponds to, in combination, at least one of the opening tag, the at least one intermediate symbol, and the closing tag, as a key. 
     
     
         3 . The server of  claim 2 , wherein the key is compared to a plurality of predetermined ordered patterns of symbols to determine whether the key matches one of the predetermined patterns of symbols; and
 in the case there is a match, retrieving from the database the information corresponding to the matched key, wherein the information includes a uniform resource locator (URL) usable by a browser application on the remote device.   
     
     
         4 . The server of  claim 3 , wherein the retrieved information is sent to the remote device. 
     
     
         5 . The server of  claim 4 , wherein the URL comprises a web address in hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) format usable by a browser application on the remote device. 
     
     
         6 . A method for use by a server operatively coupled to a network, comprising:
 receiving a message sent via the network by a remote device, wherein the remote device sent the message responsive to recognizing a predetermined text pattern containing an initial portion as an opening tag and a final portion as a closing tag, wherein the opening tag and the closing tag enclose between them at least one recognized intermediate symbol associated with information stored in a tangible storage device accessible to the server;   retrieving the information from the storage device; and   sending the retrieved information via the network to the remote device.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising retrieving information from a location in a database stored on the storage device, wherein the location corresponds to, in combination, at least one of the opening tag, the at least one intermediate symbol, and the closing tag, as a key. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising before the retrieving, comparing the key to a plurality of predetermined ordered patterns of symbols to determine whether the key matches one of the predetermined patterns of symbols; and
 in the case there is a match, retrieving from the database the information corresponding to the matched key, wherein the information includes a uniform resource locator (URL) usable by a browser application on the remote device.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending the retrieved information to the remote device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the URL comprises a web address in hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) format usable by a browser application on the remote device. 
     
     
         11 . A mobile communication device (mobile) operatively coupled to a network, the mobile comprising at least one processing unit operatively coupled to at least one memory, the memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the mobile's at least one processing unit, cause the mobile to perform a method, the method comprising:
 capturing an image and analyzing the image, and   responsive to the analysis, sending a message to the server via the network.   
     
     
         12 . The mobile of  claim 11 , wherein the computer executable instructions were downloaded and installed onto the mobile as an app. 
     
     
         13 . The mobile of  claim 11 , wherein the analysis includes optical character recognition (OCR) of an image containing text. 
     
     
         14 . The mobile of  claim 13 , wherein the analysis includes recognizing in the OCR'd text a predetermined text pattern containing an initial portion as an opening tag and a final portion as a closing tag, wherein the opening tag and the closing tag enclose between them at least one recognized intermediate symbol; and
 wherein a combination of at least one of the opening tag, the intermediate symbol(s), and the closing tag form a key that corresponds to information stored in a tangible storage device accessible to a server operatively coupled to the mobile.   
     
     
         15 . The mobile of  claim 14 , wherein the mobile sends a message to the server responsive to recognizing the predetermined text pattern, wherein the message comprises the key. 
     
     
         16 . The mobile of  claim 15 , wherein the mobile, after sending the message to the server, receives from the server a message containing the information corresponding to the key. 
     
     
         17 . The mobile of  claim 16 , wherein the received message comprises a uniform resource locator (URL) usable by a browser application running on the mobile. 
     
     
         18 . The mobile of  claim 17 , wherein the URL comprises a web address in hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) format. 
     
     
         19 . The mobile of  claim 18 , wherein the browser application is directed to the web address. 
     
     
         20 . The mobile of  claim 19 , wherein the image containing text is part of a print advertisement, and a web page at the web address provides information pertaining to a subject of the advertisement.